Box-car loader.



. ZJzLwsses J. M. GHRISTY. BOX GAR LOADER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1909. 1,084,788.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0" WASHINGTON. u. c.

Patented J an. 20, 1914.

J. M. GHRISTY.

BOX CAR LOADER.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 27, 1900.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-ulHEET 2.

COLUMBIA l LANouwAr-u (0., WASHINGTON. u. C.

J. M. GHRISTY.

BOX OAR LOADER.

APPLIUATLON FILED SEPT. 27, 1909. 1,084,788. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

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1 llllll h COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,. WAS NNNNNNNNNN c,

J. M. GHRISTY.

BOX CAR LOADER.

APPLIUATION FILED BBPT.27,1909.

1,084,788.- Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPN CD..WASH1NGTON. D. l?

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. CHRISTY, 0F DES MOINES, IOWA.

BOX-CAR LOADER.

Application filed September 27, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. CHnIsTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Box-Car Loader, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of simple, strong and durable construction especially designed for loading material such as coal into box cars.

More specifically it is my object to provide a movable truck having a loader frame at one end and an engine at the other, said truck being designed to be moved on its support to position with the loader frame extended within a box car, or withdrawn therefrom, and to provide means whereby the engine may be operated to propel the truck frame in either direction and also to operate the loader conveyer in either direction.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby an operator on the truck frame adjacent to the engine may readily and easily swing the loader frame relative to the truck frame in a horizontal plane so that the loader frame may enter the door opening in the side of a box car and then be turned after being positioned in the car, and so that the operator may also readily and easily tilt the loader frame in a vertical plane to thereby provide for delivering material either close to the delivery end of the loader frame or to a point distant from the delivery end of the loader frame as required to pile the material in the central portion of a car, or at the ends of a car.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a device embodying my invention and also a sectional view of a box car having the loader frame of my improved device positioned therein. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the longitudinal center of the device to illustrate the gearing for operating the truck frame and the mechanism for rotating the loader frame and also the mechanism for tilting the loader frame. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate respectively end views of the telescoping, con;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914..

Serial No. 519,705.

necting members of the main drive shaft. Fig. 5 shows a vertical sectional view taken through the transverse center of the loader frame and illustrating the turn table for the loader frame, and the adjacent portion of the truck frame. Fig. 6 shows a sectional view on the line (56 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 shows a side elevation of the loader frame mounted above the truck frame and having portions of the adjacent side removed to show the conveyer. Fig. 8 shows a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 to illustrate the reversing mechanism for the engine. Fig. 9 shows an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the means for connecting the reversing lever with the eccentric, and Fig. 10 shows an enlarged detail side view of the reversing eccentric.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a base upon which are mounted track rails 11. At the sides of the track rails 11 are the brackets 12, having flanges 13 at their upper ends extending inwardly over the rails for the purpose of preventing upward tilting movements of the truck wheels on the rails 11 (see Fig. 8).

The truck frame comprises two parallel frame members 14 and also a transverse connecting frame member 15. At one end of the truck frame is the stationary portion of the turn table for the loader frame, hereinafter described and at the other end is the frame member 16 for the engine. This truck frame is provided with two axles 17 on which are the flanged wheels 18 to rest on the track rails 11 and to extend under the flanges 13.

Rotatably mounted above the longitudinal center of the truck frame is the main power shaft 19. This shaft is driven by the engine and means are provided whereby the engine may be reversed to drive the shaft in opposite directions.

The engine proper forms no part of my present invention but a portion of it is illustrated in the accompanying drawings for the purpose of showing the means whereby the power shaft may be reversed in its movement.

Loosely mounted upon the power shaft is a sleeve 20 having a spiral slot 21 therein and also having an annular groove 22. At one end of the sleeve is an eccentric 23. A pin 21 is fixed to the shaft 19 and extended through the slot 21.. Mounted on the eecentric 23 is an eccentric strap 24. A valve operating arm 25 is fixed to the eccentric strap and the second valve operating arm 26 is pivoted to the eccentric strap. The outer end of each of the arms 25 and 26 is pivoted to a rocker arm 27, and this rocker arm 27 is fixed to a sleeve 27* which sleeve is rotatably supported and provided with a second rocker arm 27 (see Fig. 1) the latter being in line with the valve stem of the engine and the former being in line with the eccentric. The said rocker arm 27 is connected with the valve stem 28 by means of the link 29. Mounted in the annular groove 22 is a collar 30, having the lugs 31 extending outwardly from its sides. Fulcrumed below the shaft 19 is a lever 32 having slots 33 therein in which the said lugs 31 are mounted. By means of this construction it is obvious that by a movement of the lever 32 the sleeve 20 may be moved longitudinally of the power shaft 19, and this longitudinal movement will result in turning the eccentric 23 about one fourth of a revolution during the time that the sleeve 20 moves longitudinally of the shaft 19, throughoutthe length of the slot 21, and this movement of the eccentric will cause the valves connected with the valve stems 28 to be operated in such a manner as to reverse the movement-of the engine with which they are connected.

The engine cylinders are indicated by the numeral 34: and are supplied with steam through the pipe The valve chambers are indicated by the numeral 36. By means of this arrangement it is obvious that when the lever 32 is at one limit of its movement, the pin 21 will be at one end of the slot 21 and the engine will operate to turn the shaft 19 in one direction, and when the lever is moved to its opposite limit, the pin 21 will be in the other end of its slot. and the engine will operate in a reverse direction.

I have provided means for moving the truck frame on its supporting rails by power fro-m the main power shaft as follows: Keyed to the outer end of the main portion of the shaft 19 is a socket 37 provided with inwardly projecting teeth 38 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4;.) The outer portion of the main driving shaft is indicated by the numeral 39 and is slidingly mounted on suitable bearings 40. Fixed to the shaft section 39 is a sleeve 41 having at one end a head 42 pro vided with notches 13 to receive the teeth 38 and at its other end is an annular groove in which an annular collar 44 is mounted, which collar is connected with the operating lever 45 by which means the shaft 39 may be moved longitudinally and the arrangement of the head 42, and the socket 37 is such that the two shaft members 19 and 39 will be connected for rotary movement regardless of the position of the shaft 39 as adjusted by the lever 45. Fixed to the shaft section 39 is a pinion 46 in mesh with a cog wheel 4C7 mounted in the truck frame which in turn is in mesh with a larger cog wheel 48 mounted in the truck frame. The cog wheel 5L8 is fixed to a shaft 49 which is also provided with a beveled pinion 50 fixed thereto. On the supporting shaft 17 of the truck frame is a beveled pinion 51 in mesh with the pinion 50. By this arrangement of gearing devices it is obvious that when the shaft 39 is moved longitudinally in its supports to position Where the pinion 46 will engage the cog wheel L7, then the truck frame will be moved longitudinally upon its track and the movement of the truck frame may be reversed by a reversal of theengine.

Mounted upon the outer end of the truck frame is a stationary turn table member 52 and resting upon it is a rotatable turn table member 53, said members being provided with grooves to receive the bearing balls 54. Mounted upon the turn table member 53 is the base 55 for the loader frame. This base is provided with comparatively large bearing members 56 extended transversely across it to receive the main supporting shaft 57 of the loader frame. This supporting shaft 57 has large journal members 58 at its ends in the bearing members 56. rangement it is obvious that the loader frame that is attached to the supporting shaft 57 is tiltingly supported in the bearing members 56. Formed on or fixed to the supporting shaft 57 is a downwardly projecting arm 59 having a segmental gear 60 at its lower end. This gear is designed to co-act with a worm gear, hereinafter described for the purpose of tilting the supporting shaft 57 in the loader frame. Fixed to the sup porting shaft 57 and its journals 58 is the loader frame proper indicated by the reference numeral 61. At the ends of the loader frame are the shafts 62, to which the sprocket wheels 63 are fixed.

The endless platform is composed of sprocket chains 64 and cross slats 65, the latter being provided at intervals with angle bars 66 to form cross bars on the conveyer platform.

The particular construction of the loader frame and its conveyer does not form part of my present invention. On one of the shafts 62 is a sprocket wheel 67, from which the endless conveyer is driven as will hereinafter appear. Rotatably mounted within the supporting shaft 57 is an operating shaft 68 for the loader frame. On this operating shaft is a sprocket wheel 69 connected by chain 70 with the sprocket wheel 67, and formed on the said sprocket wheel 69 is a socket 71 having internal teeth 72 similar to the teeth 38 on the socket 37 and on the outer end of the shaft section 39 is a head 73 having notches 74 thereon similar to the notches By this ar- 43 on the head 42, and designed to co-act with the teeth 72. The arrangement of these parts is such that when the loader frame is in position with its longitudinal axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the truck frame, then the shaft 89 may be moved outwardly by the lever 45 and the head 73 will enter the socket 72 and the teeth and notches thereon will co-act to operatively connect the shafts 39 and 68, and when said shaft 68 is thus driven, the conveyer platform will be operated with it. It is obvious that a reversal in the movement of the main power shaft of the engine will operate to reverse the movement of the said conveyer platform.

I have provided means whereby an operator on the truck frame in position where he can readily reach and control the levers 32 and 45, may also manually rotate the loader frame upon its turn table and tilt the loader frame to any desired angle. For this purpose I have provided the following mechanism: Rotatably mounted in the truck frame a tube 75 having a hand-wheel 76 at its upper end and a sprocket wheel 7 7 at its lower end. A, short sprocket chain 78 is mounted on the sprocket wheel 77 and connected with the ends of the chain 78 is a cable 79, which cable is passed around the lower end of the upper turn table member 53, in a groove 80 provided for that purpose, so that by turning the handwheel 76 the loader frame may be turned from position at right angles to the truck frame, to position parallel with it. This turning of the loader frame is necessary in a device of this kind for the purpose of permitting it to enter into box cars through comparatively narrow side door openings therein, then after the loader frame is inside of a box car it may be turned to position at right angles to the loader frame for distributing material placed upon it toward the ends of the box car.

The means for tilting the loader frame comprises a shaft 81, rotatably mounted in the tubes 75 and provided with a handwheel 82 at its upper end and with a beveled pinion 83 at its lower end. A shaft 84: is rotatably mounted in the truck frame and is provided at one end with a beveled pinion 85 to mesh with the pinion 83 and on its other end with the beveled pinion 8(5.

Rotatably mounted in the central portion of the stationary turn table member 52, is a short shaft 87 having a large beveled pinion 88 to mesh with the pinion 86 and also a small beveled pinion 89, the latter being arranged to mesh with a beveled pinion 90, which is fixed to a shaft 91, which shaft is also provided with a worm gear 92 arranged to mesh with the segmental gear 60. This shaft 91 is mounted in bearings carried by the rotatable turn table member so that the loader frame may be operated by a movement of the shaft 91, no matter in what po' sition of its movement the rotatable turn table member may be with relation to the stationary one. Said parts are so arranged that when the hand-whcel S2 is operated, the worm gear 92 will be turned as required to move the segmental gear and this will cause the loader frame to tilt.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, the dotted lines thereof show the loader frame tilted to one limit of its movement.

In practical 0pc 'ation the engine is controlled by the lever 32. Assuming that it is desired to move the truck f 'ame into a box car, then the lever 4-5 is manipulated to bring the pinion .1-6 into mesh with the pinion 17. By this means the truck may be ope 'ated to move in either direction by a reversal of the engine. Assuming that the loader frame is extended to position within a box car, then the operator manipulates the hand-wheel 76 to turn the loader frame to position extended longitudinally of the box car. He then operates the lever 45 to move the shaft 39 outwardly so that the head 74 thereof will enter the toothed socket 71. This will throw the pinion 46 out of engagementwith the pinion a7 and the endless conveyor platform of the loader frame will be operated. The coal or other material to be loaded in the box car is delivered by means of an ordinary chute on top of the endless platform, and by regulating the speed of travel on the endless conveyer platform this material may be delivered into the box car, either close to the loader or when the speed is increased, it may be thrown to the adjacent end of the car. By a reversal of the engine the material may be delivered toward either end of the car. Assuming that it is desired to deliver material. as close as possible to the loader within the box car, and to prevent the material from injuring the floor of the box car, I then manipulate the hand wheel 82 as required to tilt the end of the loader downwardly, that is, at the end toward which the material is being delivered, then after a considerable quantity of the material is delivered close to the loader, and the floor of the car is protected by the material, I then gradually raise the delivery end of the loader by means of the handwheel 82 to throw the material farther toward the end of the car, and by tilting the delivery end of the loader to a considerable upward inclination, I am enabled to pile the material high within the car. The delivery point of the material within the car is also controlled to a great extent by the speed of the conveyor platform governed by the speed of the engine.

()ne of the desirable and important features of my invention is the extreme simplicity of the mechanism for driving the conveyer of the loader and for adjusting the loader into various positions, and one of the mechanical features by which this result is attained is the detachable connection be tween the shaft 39 and the shaft 68.

Another one of the important and desirable features of my invention is that the loader frame may be adjusted or tilted readily and easily by the same operator who is controlling the engine, thus disposing with the necessity of an operator going inside of a box car for the purpose of handling the loader frame.

1 claim as my invention 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base designed to be run into a box car, a conveyer frame rotatably mounted upon said base, a conveyer in the conveyer frame, a shaft in the conveyer frame operatively connected with the conveyer for driving the latter, a power shaft carried by the base, and means for coupling the power shaft to the shaft of the conveyer frame when the latter frame is moved to posit-ion with its shaft in alinement with the power shaft.

:2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a truck frame, capable of being projected into a box car, a power shaft carried by the truck frame, a prime mover for actuating the power shaft, a coupling member on the power shaft, a turntable on one end of the truck frame, a conveyer frame mounted on the turn-table, a conveyer in said conveyer frame, a shaft in the conveyer frame for operating the conveyer, and a clutch member on said shaft designed to enact with the clutch member on the power shaft when the shaft in the conveyer frame is moved to position in alinementwith the power shaft.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a truck, a rotatable power shaft carried by the truck and capable of longitudinal movement, a notched head thereon, a loader frame rotatably mounted upon the truck, a base for the loader frame having bearings in its sides, a shaft member having ournals at its ends rotatably mounted in said bearings for permitting the loader frame to tilt relative to the truck frame, a conveyer mounted in the loader frame and a conveyer operating means comprising a shaft rotatably mounted in the conveyer shaft, a toothed socket on said shaft to receive the notched head of the power shaft, and gearing devices on said shaft for connecting it with the conveyer.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a truck frame, a turn table thereon, a tilting conveyer frame mounted on the turn table, said parts being capable of having the conveyer frame moved to position substantially in line with the truck frame to be inserted in a box car and also capable of being turned to position substantially at right angles to the truck frame for delivering material into the interior of a box car, a segmental rack fixed to said tilting frame and extended downwardly, a shaft carried by the truck, means for rotating said shaft, gearing devices interposed between said shaft and said segmental rack for tilting the conveyer frame by a movement of the shaft when the conveyer frame is in its position substantially at right angles to the truck frame, said means comprising a beveled gear Wheel on said shaft, a large beveled gear wheel arranged in a horizontal position in the truck frame and in mesh with the beveled gear on the shaft, a smaller beveled gear wheel connected with the said large one, a shaft carried by the loader frame and having thereon a worm gear in mesh with the segmental rack and also a beveled gear wheel in mesh with the said small beveled gear wheel, for the purposes stated.

JOSEPH M. CHRIS-TY;

Witnesses MARK L. JoHNsoN, RALPH Onwie.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

